The GOAT? Rodri, Neymar… players who picked Messi over Ronaldo
Lionel Messi vs Ronaldo
In a recent interview, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, Rodri, expressed his belief that Argentine icon Lionel Messi is a better player than his Portuguese counterpart, Cristiano Ronaldo, even going so far as to declare Messi the greatest footballer in history. This statement has reignited the longstanding rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi, a debate that has captivated fans and professionals alike for years.
From their contrasting styles to their record-breaking achievements, these two football legends have consistently earned admiration from players and coaches around the world. This piece delves into the perspectives of top footballers and managers on what many consider the greatest rivalry in the history of the sport.
Pep Guardiola: Former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager, who had the privilege of coaching Lionel Messi during his early years at Barcelona, has undoubtedly favored the Argentine in the GOAT debate. When discussing the players he has managed throughout his coaching career, he has consistently praised Messi above others. “Messi is the best; he is definitely the best. He knows how to play, score, and make others play. He is always there. With all due respect to all the players, especially Cristiano Ronaldo, I think Messi is on another level.”
Neymar Jnr: Upon his arrival in Spain, Brazilian forward Neymar was thrilled to play alongside Messi, having witnessed the Argentine’s footballing brilliance, both in training and in matches against opponents. The duo shared numerous appearances together at Barcelona and later at Paris Saint-Germain. When asked about his perspective on the debate between Ronaldo and Messi as the greatest player in football, Neymar expressed his excitement at playing alongside Messi, calling it a unique experience: “Playing alongside Leo was a unique experience, and we became friends. Of all the players I’ve seen, Messi is the best in history.”
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Angel Di Maria: One of the few footballers fortunate enough to share a professional career with both of these distinguished icons is Ángel Di María. In 2020, the Argentine midfielder expressed his preference for his fellow countryman, Messi, over other players he has shared the field with, including Ronaldo. “It was a dream to have the possibility to play with (Wayne) Rooney, (Zlatan) Ibrahimović, Cristiano (Ronaldo), Leo (Messi). They were players I used on PlayStation, and I never imagined I’d get to play with them. To have the opportunity to do so was really nice. Leo is the best of the four.”
Yes, as you might point out, these players had significant relationships with Messi, especially in terms of their footballing careers. However, there are other top footballers who, although they never shared the pitch with Messi, have been greatly influenced by his style of play and the records he has achieved. Here are some of those players and how they have expressed their admiration for Messi.”
Roy Keane: It may come as a bit of a surprise, but it’s his opinion and it should be respected. Manchester United legend, who never shared a professional moment with Messi as a teammate, expressed his views on the GOAT debate in an interview with The Mirror. “I was a big fan of Maradona growing up, and of the current players, Ronaldo is good, but Messi is the best I’ve ever seen. I don’t dish out praise lightly, but Messi deserves it. I look for weaknesses in his game, and I can’t find any.”
Gary Lineker: Aside from Roy Keane, who never shared a professional career with Messi, Gary Lineker has also expressed his admiration for Messi as the greatest player of all time in football history. The former English striker, now a broadcaster and football pundit, shared his thoughts on the debate, stating that he never thought he would see another player as skillful as Maradona. “I never thought I’d see a better player than Diego (Maradona). Maradona was unbelievable, and I was in awe of him, as everyone was back then. But when you look at Messi, he does everything and more than Diego could do. I’m also a huge fan of Ronaldo; I’m a massive admirer of him. I think he is one of the greatest goal scorers of all time—there’s no question about that. But for me, football is about watching it and getting joy from it, and when I watch Messi play, it makes me feel joyous. He does four or five things in a game that just get you off your seat, and for me, that is the difference between the two of them.”
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